Folding couch.



T. CALMES.

FOLDING POUCH.

APPLNJATION HLED 0612741913.

1,1 16,562. Patented Nov.10,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. Urirrnn s'r ras PATENT ormon- THOMAS CALMES, OF OAKLAND, CALFORNIA.

FOLDING COUCH.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CALMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the countyof Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Couches, of which the followingis a specilication.

-This invention relates to a folding couch.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, substantial, cheaply manufactured folding couch which is particularly adapted for campers use, and which is so constructedthat the main mattress frame and supporting legs may be easily folded and taken apart, thus making it possible to assemble the several parts in a compact bundle around which the flexible mattress may be rolled.

Further objects will appearhereinafter.

The'invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the folding couch. Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectionl on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. it is a perspective view of one end 4of the foot rail, showing the attachment of the supporting legs. Fig. 5 is a'perspective View showing one end of the siderrail andthe attachment thereon by which it is secured to the end rail. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the side rails, showing the rail partly folded. Fig. 7 is an enlarged crossrsection on the line @iv of Fig. 1, showing the pivotal connection con necting the two parts of the side rail.

Referring to the drawings: A indicates a suitable form of flexible wire mattress adapt-- ed to be attached to the head and foot rails of the bed frame, generally indicated at B, by means of coil springs 2. The frame B consists of head and foot rails 3 and el, and side rails 5 and 6, all of which are in this instance formed of angle iron. Each side rail in turn consists of two foldable sections 7 and`8, pivotally secured together, as at 9. The'head and foot rails of the frame are formed of a single piece of angle iron, and are provided at each end with holes 10, and inwardly projecting lugs 11. Pivotally secured to each head and foot rail, as at 12,

are a pair of supporting legs 13, which may be folded inwardly against the top plate 14 when the bed is to be folded or extended to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled October 27, 1913.

Alar vstrengthen the pivotal connection and Patented Nov. 1o, 1914.

Serial No. 797,383.

the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, when the bed is unfolded.

. The main novelty in this invention resides in the means for securing the side rail sections 7 and 8 'to the vhead and foot rails 3 and 4. This, is accomplished by the following means: Suitably secured to each side rail section 7 and S, at the outer ends of same, as at 15, is an angle bracket 16,- to the outer end of which is secured a pin 1T. The lower end of each angle bracket is turned inwardly, as indicated atlS, and is provided with an inwardly extending lug 19, provided with a notch 20. Yhen erecting the bed and when it is desired to connect the side rails with relation to the head and foot rails, it is accomplished by bringing the ends together in such position that the pin 1T, secured on the angle bracket 16, willproject through the opening 10 in the head or foot rail, whichever the case may be. The pin 17 will prevent the side rail from. moving inwardly toward the center' of the bed, while the inwardly turned lug 11, formed on the ends of the end rails, will prevent any outward or swinging movement of the side rail with relation to the end rails. The side railsv are then further secured in position by unfolding the legs v13 until these assume the slightly outwardly inclined positions indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Each leg 13 is in turn provided with an opening 21,' which is so positioned as to permit the lug19 to pass through. The leg is then locked in this position by swinging a latch 22 down into register with the notch 20 formed in the lug, thus securely locking the leg to the'side rail, and also preventing any inward swinging movement of the side raill with relation to the end rails. The lugs 19 do not only perform the function of locking the legs in position with relation to thevangle brackets on the side rails, but also provide a means for bracing the bed lengthwise, thus'preventing any rocking movement or play in this direc tion.

Secured to each side rail section 8 is a short piece of angle iron 23, which is so positioned that its downwardly projecting side will face on the inside of the bed. This produces a channel section at the pivotalV- point through which a pivot pin 9 inserted. Y A Y Secured to the side rail sections 7 arel simil angle brackets 25, which further mayl be stiffen the rails against any side play with relation to the pivot pin 9.

Pivotally secured to the side rail sections -7 and 8 lat one end of the bed frame' is a pair of secondary short leg sections 26, which are only folded down into the position indicated in Fig. 2 when it is desired to refold the bed. The h'ead and foot rail sections 3 and 4 mayalso be provided with parallel collapsible head and foot rails 27 and 28 foldable in the usual manner.

In operation when it is desired to refold the bed .it is accomplished by first releasing the'latches 22 with relation to the notches 20 in the lugs 19. Each leg 13 is then folded inwardly up in under' the top plates 14 of the end rails and the secondary legs 26 nnfolded to the position indicated in Fig. 2.

The main frame is thus supported in the center upbn the legs 26 which are provided for the purpose of permitting a person to place one foot on each sidel of the pivot con nection 9. Suiiicient pressure may thus be brought to bear on each section of the side rails to overcome `the tension of the coil springs 2, supporting the wire mattress A. The moment the spring tension of the wire ULmattress Ahas been overcome it will immei1-iately be seen that the side rail sections will assume the' positionindicated in Fig. 6. It is then possible to remove the head and foot rails from out of engagement with the pins `17, secured on the angle brackets 16, thus permitting the head and foot rails to be entirely removed with relation to the side rails. The side rails are then lcompletely folded to form the shortest section possible, and are then placed on top of the foot rail. The compact biindle, comprising the two folded side rails together with the foot rail,

is then rolled in the direction of arrow a,

Fig. l, so as toentirely inclose these sections within the wire mattress.- A compact, neat, easily handled bundle is thus secured which may be easily tied to a pack saddle or stored away in an automobile, or the like. The bed can similarly bequickly erected by unrollingthe wire mattress to release the folded side rail sections. These are then eX- tended and placed in such position that the pins 17 on the angle brackets 16 will register with the' holes 10 in the ends of the end rails. Pressure lis then brought to bear upon the pivot connection 9 until each side rail assumes a straight position, indicated in Fig. 2. The wire .fabric is thus brought to the desired tension and the parts temporarily secured until the legs are unfolded and locked in position with relation to the side rails by the latches 22; the head and foot rails 27 and 28 are then elevated, if desired, and the bedding placed in position.

The folding couch constructed as here shown is neat in appearance, reliable in action, and takes less space when folded than the ordinary types of foldingcouches now 1n use.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the couch are such as experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention,wha`t l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s: l v

1. A folding couch comprising in'combi; nation, a pair of foldable side rail sections, bead and foot rails, a wire mattress secured between said head and foot rails, a pair of supporting legs pivotally secured on each head and foot rail, and means on lthe ends of the side rails for securing the side rails,`

head and foot rails and supporting legs together. Y

2. A folding couch comprising in combination, a pair of foldable side rail sections, head and foot rails, a wire mattress secured between said head and foot rails, a pair of supporting legs pivotally secured on each head and foot rail, a pair of secondary legs pivotally' secured, one on each side rail, means on the ends of the side rails for securing the head and foot rails to the side rails, and means on the supporting legs for locking same to the last-named means.

`3. A folding couch comprising in combination, a pair of foldable side rail sections, head and foot rails, a wire mattress secured between said head and foot rails, a' pair of supporting legs pivotally secured on each bead and foot rail, anglebrackets permanently secured on the ends ofthe side rails, outwardly extending pins permanently secured in said angle brackets, holes formed in the ends of the head and foot vrails adapted to receive said pins, inwardly turned lugs on the ends of the head and foot rails engageable with the sides of the angle brackets, and means on the supporting legs for locking same to the angle brackets.

4. A folding couch comprising in combination, a pair of foldable side rail sections, head and foot rails, a wire mattress secured between said head and foot rails, a pair of supportingv legs pivotally secured on each bead and foot rail, angle brackets permanently secured on the ends of the side rails, outwardly extending pins permanently secured in said angle brackets, holes formed in the ends of the head and foot rails adapted to receive said pins, inwardly turned lugs on the vends of the head'and foot rails engageable with the sides of the angle brackets,

inwardly turned lugs on the angle brackets, and slots formed in the supporting legs registrable with said lugs.

5. A folding couch comprising in combination, a ,pair of foldable side rail sections,

bead and foot rails, a wire mattress secured between said head and foot rails, a pair 0f #supporting ylegs pivotally secured oneacb head and foot rail, angle brackets ermanently secured on the ends of the si e rails, outwardly extending pins permanently se'- cured in said angle brackets, holes formed in the ends of the head and foot rails adapted to receive said pins, inwardl turned lugs on the ends of the head and oot rails engageable with the sides of the angle brackets, mwardly turned lugs on the angle brackets, slotsl formed in the supporting le registrable with said lugs, slots formedgs in said lugs, and latches on the legs engageable with the slots to lock the legs to the angle brackets. v

6. A folding couch comprising in combination a pair of side rail sections, head and foot rails, a wire mattress secured between said head and foot rails, a pair of sup orting legs pivotally secured on each he and foot rail, a pair of secondary legs pivotally secured, one on each side rail, angle brackets permanently secured on the ends of the side rails, outwardly extending pins permanently secured in said angle brackets, holes formed in the ends of the head and foot rails adapted to receive said pins, inwardl turned lugs on the ends of the head and oot rails engageable with the sides of the angle brackets, inwardly turned lugs on the angle brackets, and slots formed in the supporting legs registrable with said lugs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscriblng witnesses.

THOMAS CALMES. Witnesses JOHN H. Hmmmc, W. Huur. 

